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50,000 Fall Fans Can't Be Wrong: 39 Golden Greats
Artist:
The Fall
Format: CD
New: Available $16.99
Wish
Formats and Editions
More Info:
Of all the late-70's punk and post-punk bands, none are longer-lived or more prolific than the Fall. Singer Mark E. Smith has become a cult legend in alt-rock circles with his caustic, acerbic wit and inimitable vocal style. This 39-track double CD spans the group's illustrious career and is the ultimate collection for newcomer and veteran fan alike. Artwork includes full color 12-page booklet and cardboard slipcase over jewel.Reviews:
The Fall is a cult band for good reason. Only the truly obsessed could bother to ferret the gems out of the Manchester band's voluminous, repetitive catalog. Emerging just after British punk's first wave was left for dead, Mark E. Smith has since led some two-dozen lineups through countless variations on the same one-and-a-half riffs while he natters on about whatever-ah is on his mind-ah at the moment-ah. He's one of rock's most atavistic performers, so craft isn't exactly of the essence to him, and he's made scads of albums: some good, some terrible, few anything like essential.All of which makes 50,000 Fall Fans Can't Be Wrong a miracle of sorts for novice and veteran fan alike. This two-disc set of nothing but highlights is the ideal way in. It also sheds light on hallowed favorites, in a manner reminiscent of single-artist collections like ChangesOneBowie and James Brown's Star Time; trimming the fat leaves an already impressive catalogue sounding mightier than ever. If you already loved "Mr. Pharmacist," "Totally Wired" and "Cruisers Creek," you'll adore them in this setting, and the second disc prunes a more unsure era beautifully.
Does that mean you'll want to proceed directly to The Real New Fall Album? Possibly. It's pretty solid-and for a Fall album, it's also pretty relaxed. "Mountain" and "Green Eyed Loco-Man" are plenty noisy, though Smith's slurry delivery gives them a sense of centered calm. Still "Contraflow" brings out as much snarl as any Fall fan needs-which, as 50,000 demonstrates, is plenty.
"The Fall is a cult band for good reason. Only the truly obsessed could bother to ferret the gems out of the Manchester band's voluminous, repetitive catalog. Emerging just after British punk's first wave was left for dead, Mark E. Smith has since led some two-dozen lineups through countless variations on the same one-and-a-half riffs while he natters on about whatever-ah is on his mind-ah at the moment-ah. He's one of rock's most atavistic performers, so craft isn't exactly of the essence to him, and he's made scads of albums: some good, some terrible, few anything like essential.All of which makes 50,000 Fall Fans Can't Be Wrong a miracle of sorts for novice and veteran fan alike. This two-disc set of nothing but highlights is the ideal way in. It also sheds light on hallowed favorites, in a manner reminiscent of single-artist collections like ChangesOneBowie and James Brown's Star Time; trimming the fat leaves an already impressive catalogue sounding mightier than ever. If you already loved ""Mr. Pharmacist,"" ""Totally Wired"" and ""Cruisers Creek,"" you'll adore them in this setting, and the second disc prunes a more unsure era beautifully.
Does that mean you'll want to proceed directly to The Real New Fall Album? Possibly. It's pretty solid-and for a Fall album, it's also pretty relaxed. ""Mountain"" and ""Green Eyed Loco-Man"" are plenty noisy, though Smith's slurry delivery gives them a sense of centered calm. Still ""Contraflow"" brings out as much snarl as any Fall fan needs-which, as 50,000 demonstrates, is plenty.
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